Angela Johnson

  • 30

    Catalog books

  • 32

    Works

  • 1989 to 2013

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

Angela Johnson writes spare, emotionally precise work that moves between picture books, poetry, and novels for young readers. Her stories and poems—books like Heaven, Gone from Home, and The Other Side—often focus on family, memory, and the quiet moments that shape a child’s inner life.

Johnson’s picture books and longer works share a calm, observant voice that trusts young readers’ intelligence. From the tender duet of When I Am Old With You to the lyrical Toning the Sweep and Bird, her pages linger on small gestures, resilience, and the shifting textures of growing up.

Best Place To Start

Bird

Puffin • 2006 • quick commitment

It stands out because it asks for less time than many of the longer volumes on this page.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Poetry for young readers • Lyrical picture books • Quiet, intimate narratives

Genres and themes: Children's poetry • Family and home • Memory and loss • Everyday moments

Who this author is best for: For readers who prefer spare, lyrical language that captures childhood feeling and domestic moments.

Start with Heaven for a longer verse-driven read or pick a short picture-poem like When I Am Old With You to sample her voice.

Top Books To Start With

  1. Bird

    Puffin • 2006 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2006 • 144 pages.

  2. cool moonlight

    Dial Books • 2003 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2003 • 133 pages.

  3. first part last

    Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers • 2003 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2003 • 131 pages.

  4. The Other Side: Shorter Poems

    Scholastic • 2000 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2000 • 44 pages.

  5. Heaven (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner)

    Simon & Schuster • 1998 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1998 • 138 pages.

  6. When I Am Old With You (Orchard Paperbacks)

    Scholastic • 1993 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1993 • 32 pages.

  7. Wind Flyers

    Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing • 2007 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2007 • 32 pages.

  8. Gone from Home

    Laurel Leaf • 2001 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2001 • 112 pages.

  9. Down on the Winding Road

    Dk Pub • 2000 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2000 • 32 pages.

  10. The other side

    Orchard Books • 1998 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1998 • 44 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • cool moonlight is the easier short commitment, while Bird asks for more reading time up front.
  • cool moonlight gives you an earlier look at this author’s shelf, while Bird leans later in the catalog.
  • first part last is also useful if you want a different publishing lane from Bird.

More Books By Angela Johnson

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